Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward on his home run-robbing catch off a Ryan Braun hit in the third inning Friday, July 28, 2017, in Milwaukee. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Jason Heyward's leaping catch over the right field wall and Javier Baez's prodigious home run Friday night were just two of several superb plays that have highlighted the Cubs' second-half surge to first place in the National League Central.

But manager Joe Maddon has warned there are no guarantees, especially with 60 games remaining in the regular season.

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That became evident Friday night, as the Cubs failed to solve left-hander Brent Suter while Jose Quintana fell into too many ruts to climb out of in a 2-1 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park.

The Cubs put the tying run at third with two out in the ninth, but closer Corey Knebel struck out Kyle Schwarber.

"(Knebel) got me that time, and you have to forget about it," Schwarber said.

For the Cubs (54-48), this marked only the third loss in 10 games since the All-Star break. But their lead shrunk to a half-game ahead of the Brewers (55-50), who recently completed a 2-8 trip.

"We can't be worried about the division," said Schwarber, who downplayed his back stiffness. "We have to worry about ourselves."

Suter bucked a trend that saw the Cubs win 17 of their first 23 games against left-handed starters. The Cubs, who scored 21 runs in three consecutive victories against the White Sox, appeared overanxious against the crafty Suter, who pitched at Harvard and is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts since taking the spot of injured Chase Anderson.

"He looks like he might have gone to an Ivy League college," Maddon said of Suter's polish.

The 6-foot-5 Hayward did his best to keep the Cubs within striking distance by making a running catch of a drive by Ryan Braun in the second, and then leaping at least a foot over the 8-foot fence to take away a potential two-run home run in the third.

"He hits a lot of balls that way with authority," said Heyward, who recalled robbing Braun of his 200th homer in 2012 while playing for the Braves. "There's some history in him driving the ball that way. You have to be ready."

Baez rebounded from Tuesday's five-strikeout performance when he launched a home run off reliever Anthony Swarzak that hit the window of the stadium club on the third deck in left field and traveled an estimated 449 feet.

That was the extent of the Cubs' offense, although Jose Quintana singled to right in the third for his first major-league hit.

"I'm no hitter, but I try my best," Quintana said.

Maddon had no qualms about third baseman Kris Bryant attempting a double play with no outs in the fourth instead of throwing home for a force. But Baez mishandled the ball in his attempt to complete the double play as Hernan Perez scored what turned out to be the winning run.